Activists petition commission on alleged killing

The Human Rights Advancement, Development and Advocacy Centre (HURIDAC) and Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) Resource Centre have petitioned the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on the recent extra-judicial Killing of an unarmed citizen by an officer of the Nigerian Customs Service (CS).

In the petition delivered to NHRC head office in Abuja on Tuesday, HURIDAC and HEDA are demanding justice for the deceased, who was shot dead in the fracas that occurred on Saami/Ijebu-Ode Road, on Sunday.

The petition was signed by HURIDAC Executive Director Mr. Ayodele Ameen and the Executive Director of HEDA, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraj.

They said the incident is not just against Nigeria Criminal law, but also International Law.

The two organisations claimed that their attention was drawn to a case of indiscriminate killing by a Customs officer, through a video that went viral on the social media.

They said the story was corroborated by a statement published by the Nigerian Customs Service confirming the incident, but claiming it was an “accidental discharge”.

The bodies said: “The video showed that the man was shot dead by a Customs officer after a fracas that ensued when some Customs officers, obviously on illegal checkpoint along the highway, insisted on checking belongings and bags of commuters of the affected commercial vehicle or the payment of N5,000 bribe as clearance for their release by the Customs officers. This was clearly heard from the video.

“The Nigerian Customs Service also affirmed in their statement that the killing was carried out by one of its officers on duty in that location at the time and is due to “accidental discharge”, identifying the victim as a friend of the officers, who assisted them in providing supplies.

“We, however, wonder what the role of a civilian is in meddling in the official duties of a Customs officer to be shot in a friendly ‘accidental discharge’.”

In the petition, HURIDAC and HEDA said Article 2 of the UN Resolution 34/169 of December 17, 1979, of the Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials, stated: “In the performance of their duty, law enforcement officials shall respect and protect human dignity and maintain and uphold the human rights of all persons.”

The petition also referenced the United Nations’ Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, which also stipulates that “law enforcement officials, in carrying out their duty, shall, as far as possible, apply non-violent means before resorting to the use of force and firearms’.